(May 27, 2010) After years of planning and months of construction, the community of Kodiak celebrated the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new office building shared by Koniag, Inc. and the Kodiak Area Native Association (KANA). The 13,500-square-foot building is located on Near Island with sweeping views of the city of Kodiak and both harbors.
The ribbon-cutting comes almost precisely one year after the two organizations broke ground on the site. Several local dignitaries attended and spoke at the event, including Senate President Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak), Rep. Alan Austerman (R-Kodiak). Retired Judge Roy Madsen delivered the keynote address.
Koniag President and CEO Will Anderson said one of the goals was to design a building that fit well into the natural features of the land. “Our corporation will always be tied to our land and our community,” Anderson said. “This building is not only a testament to the success of Koniag, but also the cooperation between the many people and organizations who worked so hard to make this day a reality.”
Anderson says he wants the building to be a place in which shareholders can take pride. “It belongs to all of us and we want everyone to feel comfortable visiting the offices,” Anderson said.
Koniag, Inc. will use the offices for administration and shareholder relations staff and the corporation’s Lands Department. KANA plans to consolidate its Community Services Division in the new building. The primary funding sources for the project include the Rasmuson Foundation, Koniag, Inc. and the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust.
“We are grateful for those who generously supported this collaborative effort,” said Andy Teuber, President and CEO of KANA. “We look forward to using this facility to better fulfill our mission of providing essential services to the Kodiak community.”
The new building is located at 194 Alimaq Dr., the road that leads to St. Herman Harbor on Near Island. The name of the road was changed from Dog Bay Road to reflect the Alutiiq word for dog salmon.